The NBA season is barely a week old, and Charles Barkley is already in midseason “Who He Play For?” form. On the latest edition of the Inside the NBA game, Chuck missed all five players in the first round, as first reported by ClutchPoints.
The damage report:
- Mo Wagner: Barkley said Charlotte. He’s a Brooklyn Net.
- Buddy Hield: Barkley said Milwaukee. He’s a Chicago Bull.
- Taurean Prince: Barkley said Memphis. He’s a Detroit Piston.
- Mo Bamba: Barkley said Indiana. He’s on the Utah Jazz.
- Aaron Wiggins: Barkley said Portland. He’s an Atlanta Hawk.
Round two didn’t go much better. By round three he finally landed Wagner and Bamba, and he knew Garrett Temple was coaching on the bonus question but couldn’t finish it.
His defense? “I think the game is unfair to do it this early,” Barkley said, noting only three nights of games had been played. Later: “I got a lot going on, man.” One of the hosts hit him with the verdict: “zero retention.”
The IAHHM Take
Chuck is right about one thing: this game is harder than ever. Player movement in today’s NBA is nonstop, and role players bounce between three or four teams in a few seasons. Even die-hard fans with League Pass would have to think twice on Bamba or Wiggins.
But that’s exactly why the segment works. Barkley is the rare legend who will lose on live TV, laugh at himself and come back next week to do it again. That’s a big part of why the show still feels like a group chat with the funniest uncle in the family.
And for the Carolina folks: Chuck gave the Hornets a player they don’t even have. We’ll take it as a compliment.
How many of those five would you have gotten right? Be honest.
Speaking of new jerseys: Giannis Debuts for the Heat Tonight, But His Heart Is Still With the Brewers.
Source: ClutchPoints
